It was getting late, and Lu Wanqing thought, "Why don't I cook today? It's getting late, time for breakfast."
Lu Yang glanced warily at Zhong Li Feiyu.
Zhong Li Feiyu nodded in agreement. "Alright."
Lu Wanqing smiled happily. "Great, then I'll head to the kitchen to start cooking. If you two have anything to discuss, you can talk it over."
Zhong Li Feiyu represented the Federation here, while Lu Yang was the Emperor of the Empire. Lu Wanqing figured they must have other matters to discuss.
"Do you have something else?" Lu Yang asked, looking at Zhong Li Feiyu.
Zhong Li Feiyu was not particularly sociable, but even so, he sensed that Lu Yang... disliked him? He should probably take his leave, but his gaze drifted to Lu Wanqing, and he couldn't help but recall what Xiao Yi and his father had told him before they departed the Federation. "Make sure to seize the opportunity, gain more favor with Wanqing, and persuade her to marry you."
"I can help with the cooking," Zhong Li Feiyu said.
Lu Yang: "???"
"You know how to cook?" Lu Wanqing asked, surprised.
Zhong Li Feiyu's earlobes flushed slightly, a rare occurrence, but he still said, "I've learned quite a bit."
"Pfft," Lu Wanqing couldn't help but laugh. She nodded. "Okay, let's see. When we get to the kitchen, you can lend me a hand."
"Okay," Zhong Li Feiyu replied happily.
Lu Yang, on guard, offered, "Perhaps I should do it."
Lu Yang's personal terminal, the intelligent firefly: "???" When did Master learn to cook? It had been with him for so many years, yet it never knew.
Zhong Li Feiyu: "???" Zhong Li Feiyu was also taken aback, staring at Lu Yang in shock. Did the Emperor of the Empire also know how to cook? Were all the men pursuing Lu Wanqing this competitive? He didn't have the confidence to defeat the Mu family yet, and now there was another one?
At that moment, Zhong Li Feiyu and Lu Yang stared at each other, a look of understanding passing between them, a look only men would truly comprehend.
Lu Wanqing, unaware of the silent competition between the two men, was delighted that everyone agreed to go to the kitchen. "That's wonderful, let's all go together."
Just then, Bai Jinian, an Imperial minister, entered from outside, looking somewhat hurried.
Lu Yang looked up at him. "Is there something?"
Bai Jinian quickly replied, "Your Majesty, the crayfish have arrived."
As Bai Jinian spoke, he gestured for the robots behind him to bring forth the crayfish they had all worked so hard to catch.
Lu Wanqing was also stunned, then shocked. Crayfish? Were they the ones she imagined?
Zhong Li Feiyu's mind went blank. The last time Lu Wanqing and Xiao Yi were in trouble, there were many of these insectoids on that planet. At that time, Lu Wanqing had even live-streamed eating them with Xiao Yi. Now, the Empire had brought these insectoids to the palace? Had they sent people to that planet? To personally catch crayfish? This was too crazy!
Lu Yang was also happy. Although he had no memory of Lu Wanqing from the ancient Earth era, the name he casually gave to the intelligence and the entire planet of crayfish he had raised subconsciously—he was certain Qingqing would absolutely love crayfish! With the crayfish here, Zhong Li Feiyu wouldn't stand a chance in competing for her affection. Lu Yang thought this, his smile widening.
Old minister Bai Jinian watched, his heart pounding. His Majesty's smile was too breathtaking.
"Thank you, you've worked hard," Lu Wanqing apologized to Bai Jinian.
Bai Jinian quickly shook his head. "No, no, it's our duty. His Majesty gave the orders."
"Third Brother?" Lu Wanqing asked, surprised, turning to look at Lu Yang.
Lu Yang smiled. "Let's go process the crayfish. You must really like eating them, right?"
"Mhm!" Lu Wanqing nodded enthusiastically, overjoyed.
Zhong Li Feiyu: "!!!" This Emperor was too skilled! Wasn't he always so aloof, barely sparing anyone a glance? Although Zhong Li Feiyu was from the Federation, Lu Yang was a god on the battlefield. Even in the Federation, he knew about this war god. If it weren't for Lu Wanqing, he felt he might never have had the chance to meet him. But meeting him now... why did it feel so different from his expectations?
"I can help too," Zhong Li Feiyu quickly added.
"Then let's all go together," Lu Wanqing said with a smile.
With that settled, the three of them went to the kitchen with the crayfish.
Meanwhile, on the star network, Little Harvey landed on the desolate planet and saw a familiar figure. Little Zhong Li Yi, using a black market terminal, his identity unknown to outsiders. But Little Harvey recognized him because Lu Wanqing had brought them to play before, and Harvey and the others had used black market terminals.
"Hey, Blackie, let's have another match today!" Little Harvey spotted Little Zhong Li Yi and ran over, blocking his path. "I said, let's have another match!"
Little Zhong Li Yi had met Little Harvey more than once. During this time, he would spare some time after school almost every afternoon to log into the star network using his black market terminal. Mommy was with the red-haired boy now, and the red-haired boy would practice archery on the star network at this time. Little Zhong Li Yi wanted to piggyback on Mommy's presence. If the red-haired boy came online while Mommy was also online, then he could be with Mommy at this time.
Seeing the red-haired boy, Little Zhong Li Yi instinctively looked around beside him, "Where's Mommy?" But the boy was alone.
"Hey, Blackie, let's have another match, I'm definitely better than you now!" Little Harvey grabbed Little Zhong Li Yi and headed towards the forest.
"I'm your brother!" Little Zhong Li Yi frowned at the red-haired boy's address and corrected him earnestly, "You should call me brother!"
"Where's Mommy?" Little Zhong Li Yi asked again.
"Mommy didn't come," Little Harvey said.
"Why?" Little Zhong Li Yi asked in surprise.
While they were talking, Little Harvey had already pulled Little Zhong Li Yi into the forest. "They're adults, they have their own things to do. I'm not little anymore, I don't need her to follow me every day," Little Harvey said independently, stopping. Harvey pulled out a virtual bow and arrow and said to Little Zhong Li Yi, "Hurry, let's start the match now."
Little Zhong Li Yi felt very disappointed because Mommy hadn't come. Moreover... without Mommy, he didn't really want to compete with the red-haired boy; it wasn't fun.
"Isn't Mommy coming online?" Little Zhong Li Yi asked.
Little Harvey felt annoyed hearing about Mommy. Mommy forced him to study every day, it was so annoying! "Why do you want to be with Mommy every day? You're already seven years old and still cling to Mommy, that's shameful!" Little Harvey taunted.
Little Zhong Li Yi was taken aback, then looked at Harvey, surprised. "You don't like Mommy?" Little Zhong Li Yi was shocked, and with a hint of secret joy, "You don't want to be with Mommy?" If the red-haired boy didn't want to be with Mommy, then perhaps Mommy could return sooner? This way, Mommy could go back to the Federation and be with them. He liked Mommy, he didn't dislike Mommy, Mommy was so amazing!